Cystic kidney disease in the newborn: a practical approach to diagnosis and follow-up care

Abstract

Cystic kidney disease detected prenatally and in the neonatal period represents a wide group of hereditary and sporadic, unilateral and bilateral, benign or severe conditions. For the diagnosis of this group of diseases, an ultrasound examination of the kidneys is crucial.

For the postnatal approach, it is practical and useful to distinguish prenatal US findings of cystic kidney disease into four groups, which correlates with the probable etiology and also the severity of cystic kidney disease, and is also the basis of international recommendations for prenatal and postnatal monitoring, including the timing and frequency of US checks, indications for genetic examination and further imaging investigation.

Keywords

• cystic kidney disease
• ciliopathy
• dysplasia
• hyperechogenic kidneys
• ultrasound